USA, NJ: Lunacy Brewing Company to permanently close on September 16

Lunacy Brewing Company plans to permanently close, the business announced Monday, September 4. Sept. 16 will mark the brewery's final day, the Patch reported.

In 2015, Lunacy Brewing Co. opened in Magnolia, before relocating several years later to 1500 Kings Hwy., Haddon Heights. The business intended to expand production in the Haddon Heights facility but ran into several "hiccups" preventing it from doing so.

Those obstacles — along with the pandemic, brewery restrictions and other unspecified issues — contributed to Lunacy's decision to close, the company said Tuesday.

"It wasn't an easy decision, but we feel it’s the best for us," Lunacy Brewing Co. said on Facebook.

Lunacy Brewing Co.'s last day will feature a celebration with live music.

New Jersey's brewery industry grew quickly over the past decade but faced new obstacles when the state imposed new restrictions that went into effect in July 2022. The controversial regulations — imposed by the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) — put significant restrictions on the number of events a brewery can host, along with other restrictions.

The ABC contended that limited-brewery licenses carry different privileges than those of bars or alcohol-serving restaurants that often carry a higher price tag. Earlier this year, Gov. Phil Murphy announced his administration would seek to overhaul New Jersey's liquor-licensing system to better serve the interests of breweries, bars and restaurants.

A bill to lift the ABC's restrictions on breweries unanimously passed in the State Assembly and Senate last June. Murphy hasn't signed the bill yet. The ABC, however, paused enforcement of the restrictions last month.

New Jersey had the nation's fastest-growing craft-beer scene from 2015-18, according to C&R Research. Within that span, the state's craft-beer industry grew 43 percent.

06 September, 2023